Our 10 favorite Camino de Santiago quotes

Walking may seem easy, but when you do it for a long time it can get tough. So if you are in need of some inspiration for your Camino, look no further! We have chosen ten Camino de Santiago quotes that we hope will motivate you to keep walking!

1. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson valued traveling for its sake. Whilst most people travel thinking of the destination, in a route like the Camino what is important is the experience you live along the way.

2. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”

Whether you are unsure whether to start walking the Camino or anything else in life, the best way to know how something will feel is to try it. So if you have thought about it for some time already, let this quote be your motivation to embark on an adventure!

3. “Walking is man’s best medicine”

Back in the third century BC, Hippocrates already praised the benefits of walking. Nowadays, many modern doctors support his claims. Whenever you feel unmotivated, remember that your body will thank you for walking!

4. “Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time”

Steven Wright is a comedian, so this piece of advice is most likely tongue-in-cheek. However, there is some truth behind it: with enough time and patience, we can all walk a long way, even if it seems impossible at first. The Camino is suited for everyone!

5. “‘Life always teaches us more than the road to Santiago does’, he answered. ‘But we don’t have much faith in what life teaches us’.”

Paulo Coelho was a pilgrim himself, and this quote comes from The Pilgrimage, a book inspired by his experience on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino might not teach us more than what we can learn on our day to day lives, but it will surely be more memorable and impactful to us.

6. “Don’t come to the Camino looking for answers. Instead, come with an open heart and you may be surprised by what you find.”

To get the most of the Camino de Santiago, you should come with an open minded, positive attitude. Looking to replicate someone else’s experience will only lead to frustration, but if you open your mind and your heart you will surely have a terrific time!

7. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination”

There might be setbacks along the way, but sometimes the best way to overcome them is to accept them and move on. If there is something you cannot control (be it bad weather, a minor injury or any unexpected problem) the best course of action is to adapt and keep going.

8. “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche needed to walk in order to think. Whilst we cannot guarantee that walking the Camino will make you a philosophy ace, it can be a great opportunity to get you know yourself, and your thoughts, better.

9. “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

Sometimes the wiser option when we have made a mistake is to turn back. If you find out that you have been walking in the wrong direction, do not hesitate to walk back… but if this happens on the Camino de Santiago, you can always take a shortcut by getting a taxi!

10. “I don’t know what my path is yet. I’m just walking on it.”

What if you don’t know what path you should follow? In life, the best advice is to keep going and figure out things as you go along. As for the Camino… don’t worry, it is well signaled! But if you really get lost, it is always best to ask! And if you don’t know what Camino de Santiago route is best for you, you can always take our test!